Leicester Hockey Club

Leicester lost the 100% tag at Slough last Sunday but a 1-1 draw means that the team remains unbeaten and just one point away from securing the title. Although Slough managed to hold the League's top side, the draw meant that with just nine points to play for they cannot top the League as they are still 10 points behind the Pukka girls. The only side still capable of pipping Leicester is Reading whose 5-1 win saw them reduce the deficit to 8 points. They would have to win all three remaining games and see Leicester lose all three and that does seem unlikely.

The Leicester players had a much less arduous week ahead of the Slough match, the England girls being given some time off their tough training regime at Bisham Abbey. The rest did not appear to have done much good as early on Leicester had possession turned over and Lauren Penny was on hand to turn breakaway into lead. The goal sparked Leicester but they still stuttered until Katie Long deflected in an excellent equaliser in the 31st minute.

Leicester had most of the possession and pressure in the second half but no additional goals would come and the side had to content itself with remaining unbeaten. This weekend Leicester visits Olton where a win would clinch the title but coach Chris Mayer knows that the West Midlanders, chasing the fourth Premiership play off spot, will have no desire to hand Leicester the title.

Leicester 2nds put up a very good fight against Midlands Premier leaders Worcester before going down 2-1. With just two games left, Leicester 2nds lie 5th in the table, one of three teams on 24 points. This weekend the 2nds visit bottom side Hampton in Arden and will be hoping to collect all 3 points.

Leicester 3rds' gutsy 1-0 win over Leicestershire Premier rivals Loughborough Students 4ths sees them stay top of the League but with a number of games to rearrange that were postponed during the snowy  and frosty months.

Leicester 4ths battled through to a 1-1 draw in a physical encounter with Hinckley 2nds. Abi Lester scored to put Leicester into a deserved lead but Hinckley fought back well. Steph Mason's good save at a penalty corner rebounded off a defender and fell nicely for a Hinckley forward to finish effectively.

Leicester 5ths enjoyed an exciting game with higher placed Bosworth, who had former Leicester players Laura Christy pulling the strings for them in midfield. Two good goals from Hope Senior took Leicester 2-1 ahead after an early Bosworth goal. Bosworth scored again but two Gaynor Nash goals seemed to have sealed the win. Bosworth hit back before Ashley Goodenough scored what proved the clincher ahead of a late fourth for Bosworth gave the game a 5-4 scoreline to Leicester.

The U16s great run to the last eight of the England Hockey U18 Cup came to a disappointing end at champions Wakefield. Leicester dominated the first half but two errors saw Wakefield players in space and their finishing was clinical. 7 first half penalty corners for Leicester to none for Wakefield told the story but Leicester failed to work the Wakefield keeper in any meaningful way. What was perhaps most galling was that Wakefield should at some point in that first half have been a player down. Abbie MacArthur was very effective driving down the right and won countless fouls and penalty corners with neither Yorkshire umpire reaching into her pocket.

The second half saw Leicester having to chase the game and the young side was soon 3 down. The final scoreline of 5-0 to Wakefield was very flattering and their coach Norman Hughes conceded that his girls had been totally outplayed in the first 35 minutes. However, it's all about scoring goals and Leicester's youngsters need to develop a mean streak.

Comedy moment of the game was when with three minutes remaining a Wakefield girl was green carded, first card of the game. The same player immediately fouled again and unwisely coach Chris Glover pointed out that a yellow card was perhaps appropriate. Indeed it was, but as he was the one carded Leicester had to remove a player and the Wakefield girl went unpunished!

Despite the heavy loss the girls can be very proud of their achievement and at least half will still be U16 next season whereas most of the opposition were top end of the age group.